Best Water Bottle: Help you, help Earth

A reusable water bottle is a great way to reduce pollution. Having one also makes it easier to stay hydrated. But finding a good one is hard. The market is crowded, and it can be hard to separate quality and junk. To help you make the best choice, I’ve conducted a thorough review and found the best water bottle out there.

Overall, the Nalgene Tritan 32oz. wide mouth is my top choice. It’s lightweight, durable, sustainable, and affordable—everything you want in a water bottle.

If you want the best water bottle for both Mother Earth and your wallet, get the Nalgene 32 oz. Tritan wide mouth water bottle now.

Continue reading to find out more about how I made my choice, and also to see some of the other options that made it onto my list.

Why should you trust me?

This website is called The Human Revolution because that’s what we need to change the world, a revolution. Technology and policy are useful tools, but what we really need to do to save the planet is adjust our lifestyle so that we can live in better harmony with Nature. We must learn to appreciate more that which we have. And we must recognize that our thoughts and actions, no matter how small they seem, really do matter.

But I also understand how our crazy, chaotic world makes it hard to feel the impact we’re having. So I’ve made it my job to show you.

I care about this stuff, a lot. I’m the guy who yells at people to turn their cars off when idling at stop lights. Or who keeps a compost bin even when the smell draws funny stares and glares from the neighbors. I know mathematically my tiny little contribution doesn’t make a significant dent in the problems we face. But I also know that thinking what I do doesn’t matter is only making the problem worse.

So my goal here is to specifically outline the little things we can do that will make a big difference. I review products, offer tips, and write how-to guides to make it a little easier for all of us to do our part. Everything I recommend has gone through a rigorous review process that involves hours of research, detailed comparison, and hands-on testing, where possible.

Have a look around the site to learn more about my ideology. Everything I suggest here is the product of deep thought and reflection, but nothing is set in stone. Feel free to reach out and start a dialogue.

Why buy the best water bottle? Durability is sustainability

Plastic is both a gift and a curse. It’s a useful material, but it’s also a petroleum product. And because it’s not biodegradable, when it makes its way into a natural ecosystem, it stays there forever.

One small thing we can do to help take better care of Mother Earth is reduce our plastic consumption. And making sure we have the best water bottle available to us is just one practical way to do this.

Sustainability ultimately will require us to look away from consumption economies and models of unlimited growth. So while we will always need more water to drink, do we always need more water bottles? No. We need ways of staying hydrated that do less harm to the environment.

If you buy the best water bottle, you should never need to buy another one again. Admittedly, I have been forced to buy a few in my life, but that’s only because I can, at times, be an airhead. I’ve left them in airports, restaurants, and hotels. Doi!

However, if we make a smart purchase and buy the best water bottle, one that is durable, free of harmful toxins and that we can take with us wherever we go, we’ll be eliminating the need to continuously produce more disposable bottles.

The beverage industry has tried to combat the waste produced by plastic bottles by using thinner bottles and by encouraging recycling. But these efforts don’t quite go far enough.

By investing in a quality reusable water bottle, you are signalling to the world that you’ve had enough of our throwaway culture. You are casting a vote for building things that will last, and that don’t need to be replaced. And best of all, you are helping put an end to the never-ending cycle of want upon which consumer societies depend.

This small act of buying a reusable water bottle is not insignificant. It matters, and it will help us build a better world.

Finding the best water bottle: Our methodology

There are about a million different reusable water bottles out there. And they all claim to be the best water bottle. But many of them are not. I’ve gone through all the different options, researching them and comparing them with my personal experience, and this has led me to the real best water bottle. Here is the criteria I used to help me make this choice:

Durability

These things need to last forever. This is non-negotiable. If there’s even a chance it will break, I don’t want it. Otherwise, it defeats the whole purpose of buying a durable reusable water bottle.

Hard plastics and stainless steel are really the best options.

Nowadays, glass water bottles are all the rage. But these are far from durable. To protect them from breaking, they are usually sold with a silicone wrapper. This works, but in my opinion, also defeats the purpose of buying a water bottle in the first place. If you need to produce an extra piece of plastic to make your product last, you don’t deserve the distinction of the best water bottle.

BPA

Everyone is freaking out about BPA these days. It stands for bisphenol A, and it’s a chemical added plastics and cans to make them stronger. Quite a bit of research has come out that when BPA leaks toxins when exposed to heat. This is why it’s important to only microwave plastics specifically marked as “microwave safe.”

Many people like to put their water bottles in the dishwasher. Even if you’re not convinced about the harmful effects of BPA, doesn’t it still just make sense to avoid it? Nowadays, BPA-free water bottles are easy to find and are not expensive. Do yourself a favor and keep it BPA-free.

Size

This one will depend a little on personal choice. It’s recommended you drink 2 liters (roughly 1/2 gallon) of water each day. It’s impractical to lug around one water bottle that carries your entire daily requirement. But if the bottle is too small, it won’t be useful for when you head out on trips or go for a hike.

I’ve found 32 oz. to be the sweet spot. If you drink two bottles worth of water each day, you’ve gotten your two liters. And a 32 oz. water bottle fits easily into most bags. It’s also rather easy to carry around.

Ease of cleaning

Again, you want this bottle to last you a lifetime. If there are parts on the bottle that are hard to clean, it will eventually grow mold or other fungi, rendering it useless. This tends to happen with bottles that use straws or sport tops. While they are convenient, they will someday muck up and need to be replaced. If durability, and subsequently sustainability, are our goals, then its best to avoid these types of reusable water bottles.

Insulation

This one is up to you. I tend to avoid insulation, largely because it requires more material and is therefore a bit more expensive. But if you’re someone who likes to drink tea, or who really needs water to be cold, investing in an insulated bottle could be a good choice. Most insulated bottles are double-walled and vacuum-sealed. If they’re not, be careful, as they may not trap in hot or cold liquids as well as they advertise.

Price

How much should you spend on a water bottle? I typically advocate for spending a bit more to get quality, but to get the best water bottle, you really don’t need to spend much. Quality options can be found for between $10-15. If you want something insulated with some nicer materials, expect to pay upwards of $30. But any more than that and things are starting to get crazy.

Testing Results

Using this criteria, I went through some of the top-selling and best-reviewed options on the market. I’ve used many of these in one capacity or another, and this experience helped me make my choice.

The first step in the process was to eliminate some options based on the criteria I just mentioned. This led me to the best water bottle, which I will discuss more a bit later.

Elimination Round 1

I don’t like glass water bottles. While they advertise durability, they usually pull this off by selling you, or including, some other product that protects the glass. This just seems silly to me. They claim glass is better for you because it is toxin-free. But stainless steel and quality plastic are too, so what’s really the point of buying a glass bottle?

I guess they look cool, but they will break, and then you will need to buy a new one. Since we’re trying to support industries that go against this “break and replace” model, let’s steer clear of these water bottles.

Top choices, such as the Life Factory 22 ounce, were thrown out of the running for best water bottle because they simply aren’t durable enough.

Elimination Round 2

The next elimination round was based on how easy it is to clean the water bottle. Bottles with straws and other tight, enclosed spaces will accumulate dirt. And this, plus water, equals mold. After some time, it will become too gross to use, and you’ll end up buying a new water bottle, which defeats the whole purpose of seeking out the best water bottle in the first place.

The Best Water Bottle

Okay, so after going through all the options, testing them out, and comparing specifications, I am prepared to announce which is the best water bottle.

96/100—Nalgene 32 oz. Tritan wide mouth (Best Water Bottle)

This is really the best overall option. It’s durable, BPA-free plastic will last you until the end of time. It holds just the right amount of water, is easy to carry, and shouldn’t cost you more than $15. If you want the best water bottle out there for both you and Mother Earth, then buy the Nalgene 32 oz. Tritan wide mouth water bottle.

Here’s some more information as to why this bottle is the best:

Pros

What’s not to like about this water bottle? It’s sleek, sporty, and easy to carry. Plus, it’s made from a super strong plastic that will never break. Seriously, I’ve thrown these things off of roofs before and nothing happened. They say that they’ll survive being run over by a semi, but I don’t see any really need to test that.

Plus, they’ve got about a million different designs to choose from, so you can easily find a bottle that you enjoy looking at. You should do this, since you may end up having this thing for the rest of your life.

The wide mouth lets you put ice cubes in it, and it makes it super easy to fill and clean. I love these things and would never buy anything else. And the best part is they cost only around $10-15. How can you beat that?

Cons

I suppose the only downside of these bottles is, well, its wide-mouth. If you’re walking, driving, or running, drinking can be a bit of a challenge. This is a small problem, though, that only really comes up in specific situations.

But there are two workarounds. You can either get the same bottle but with a narrow mouth (but this will make it harder to clean and to fill with ice). Or you can get a little silicone insert that helps regulate flow. It’s only an extra couple of bucks and is so small you can hardly notice it.

For me, this issue has never been a big deal, but for others it might be. Other than this, there’s really no major downside to this water bottle.

Overall

If you’re looking for a durable, safe, sustainable, and eco-friendly water bottle, then get the Nalgene 32 oz. Tritan wide mouth water bottle now.

Here are some more details about what makes this water bottle so great:

Pros

It’s tough to beat the look of the Kleen Kanteen. It’s sporty, but also sleek. The stainless steel shimmers in the sun, and it will last you the rest of your life. In this sense, it passes the sustainability test.

It comes in all different sizes, ranging from 13 oz. to over 60 oz., so you can easily find one that will fit your needs. And there are also all different types of tops you can buy depending on what’s most appropriate for you.

The stainless steel used to make these water bottles is of the highest quality. You don’t need to worry about your water tasting like metal, something none of us really want.

Overall, this is a fantastic option for anyone in the market for the best water bottle.

Cons

For me, there are two main drawbacks to the Kleen Kanteen. The first is that it will dent. It’ll take a lot to break it, but expect blemishes if you drop it or if it collides with something. This isn’t a huge deal—some may even take pride in these battle wounds—but if we buy something that gets damaged easily, it only increases the chances we’ll want to replace it.

The second issue I have is that being metal, the Kleen Kanteen will react to temperature. So this means if you fill it with ice, or if it is out in the hot sun, the metal will actually get hotter or colder.

It’s not a big deal if it gets warm, but when it gets cold, it can be painful to grab or to put on your lips. There really isn’t much you can do to stop this, as it’s simply how the metal conducts heat. But it’s something to consider when going for a Kleen Kanteen.

Overall

Generally speaking, this is a great option. If you’re looking for a sleek, durable, and affordable water bottle that will help you stay hydrated and protect the Earth, then considering getting the Kleen Kanteen Classic Single Wall Water Bottle.

87/100—Neptune Bottle (Best Insulated Water Bottle)

For some people, the best water bottle will be one that helps them keep hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold. If this is you, then get the Neptune Bottle, the best insulated water bottle.

Here’s some more information about the Neptune Bottle:

Pros

The double-walled, vacuum-sealed Neptune Bottle will keep whatever’s inside hot for 12 hours or cold for at least 24 hours. For those who love to make tea throughout the day, or who need to have cold water to drink, this is a great option.

It’s made of stainless steel, so you can expect the same durability as with other options.

What’s nice about this bottle is that Nepute paid special attention to issues of sustainability. The entire bottle, from steel to paint, is made from recycled materials. Considering they need to use more materials to insulate the bottle, this is a nice touch.

Cons

There’s not much to dislike about this bottle. Perhaps we could say it’s expensive. But at roughly $30, it’s not that far off from what you would normally pay for an insulated water bottle. Another possible drawback is that it only comes in one size: 34 oz. But as I mentioned before, this is ideal, so it’s hard to see this as a negative.

Overall

If you want an insulated water bottle that will last forever, then get the Neptune Bottle now.

Conclusion

Using a reusable water bottle is a great way to signal to the world you’re ready to take sustainability seriously. It’s a small gesture, yes. But as I’ve said many times: everything matters. Yet in a crowded marketplace, finding the best water bottle can be a real challenge.

I’ve gone through all the different options, looking at the specs and comparing them with my experiences. From this, I’ve found the Nalgene 32 oz. Tritan wide mouth to be the best water bottle out there. It’s durable, safe, easy-to-clean, and the perfect size.